A BRIDPORT man has been jailed after attacking a teenager with a crowbar.

Lyam Michael John Bull, 21, was handed a six month prison term at Weymouth Magistrates Court on Monday for assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

His family could be heard sobbing in the public gallery as the sentence was handed down.

Bull pleaded guilty to assaulting a man and possession of the weapon in The Square, Beaminster on Friday, July 29.

Police were called to the scene at 7.53pm to reports of an assault, where an 18-year-old man from Crewkerne had sustained bruising and swelling to his arm.

Karen O'Brien, mitigating, said: "He does realise by his guilty plea that his behaviour was unacceptable.

"He has shown to a degree that when he is told not to do something, he does not do it.

"He told me that he would very much like to take the help that probation has offered. He would be grateful for any help.

"He has got a supportive family, who are in court today.

"I would ask you to be sympathetic to him and not impose a custodial sentence."

Bull committed the offence whilst he was already serving a suspended sentence for assault, handed down by the court in May.

Dr Stephen Takel, chairman of the bench, said that he had considered "very carefully" all of the information that had been presented and had taken Bull's guilty plea into account.

He added that the offence was "so serious" that only a custodial sentence would be appropriate.

He said: "The issue we have is that, as you have heard, the offence was committed so soon after the placement of a suspended sentence.

"We are sending you to prison for a period of 14 weeks for use of the offensive weapon."

The court sentenced Bull to a further 10 weeks for common assault, to run concurrently.

A further 10 week jail term was handed down as a result of the activation of the previous suspended sentence, for a total of 24 weeks.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115, compensation of £115 and £85 in costs.